The historic district of the city is home to a number of Victorian houses built in the late 1880s and Searsbungalows and Arts & Crafts houses built between the wars (late 1910s and early 1940s). Historic Hyattsville is roughly bounded by Madison Street, East West Highway, and Oliver Street to the north; Route 1 to the east; Magruder Park to the south; and 39th Avenue, 42nd Avenue, and 42nd Place to the west.[7]

Hyattsville is mostly a leafy, semi-urban area with many trees and many small- to medium-sized houses with small yards. It also has some apartment complexes, notably on its north side and near the University of Maryland. It also has some small office buildings and housing projects in a small part of its north side. Baltimore Ave (Route 1) runs through the heart of the area.

Sections of town are dominated by small red brick and wooden homes with porches (originally purchased by 1940s blue-collar residents). The area has always had a large presence of University of Maryland students, faculty and staff residents as well. It also has a large and growing Hispanic population and growing middle-class African American population.

As the area's most significant population growth occurred as part of America's post-war urban expansion, the varied traditions founded in that era are felt in the city to this day. There are a significant number of post-war era original residents and their descendants living in the town and traditional community events are still well attended and reveal the old culture and community. Many of the long-time residents have classic Maryland accents; although not like the Baltimore accent, there are some similarities. Washington, D.C. and its close northern and northwestern suburbs once had large blue-collar Irish populations and some of this influence is still present in the remnants of the older community.

Hyattsville also once also had a significant counter-cultural community, dating back to the 1960s, with many group houses and some small counter-cultural businesses and organizations present in the town. This community maintained a significant minority presence through the 1990s, although it is now beginning to fade.

There were 6,324 households of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.39.

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 34.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 7.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

There were 5,540 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,355, and the median income for a family was $51,625. Males had a median income of $33,163 versus $31,088 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,152. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Downtown Hyattsville is also undergoing revitalization as part of the Gateway Arts District, in the form of the Arts District Hyattsville private development project, which includes townhomes, live-work units, and retail space. The master developer of the 25-acre neighborhood is Bethesda-based EYA. The "economic development town center" of the arts district, the development is being constructed by EYA, Pulte Homes, StreetSense, and Bozzuto Homes. A Busboys and Poets restaurant opened in July 2011; other retail offerings include Yes! Organic Market, Elevation Burger, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Spice 6 Modern Indian, and Tara Thai.[15]

When first incorporated, Hyattsville was run by a Board of Commissioners; in May 1900, it switched to a mayor and common council system. Today, the city government consists of a popularly elected mayor and a ten-person city council. Each of the five wards in the city are represented by two popularly elected councilmen.

The city has undergone a major redevelopment over the last decade, including residential and retail development in the Arts District Hyattsville private development (located in the Gateway Arts District), and the area surrounding Prince George's Plaza.

The city of Hyattsville has expressed concern that crime in non-Hyattsville locations sharing the same ZIP codes creates an image problem for the city.[19] The city was involved in a minor controversy in April 2006. In the episode airing April 27, the Geena Davis television series Commander in Chief depicted Hyattsville as having the highest murder rate in the United States; it also indirectly depicted the town as being an urban ghetto dominated by poor minorities. The city and Prince George's County were very upset at ABC. On May 1, ABC formally apologized to both the city and county.[20]

The violent crime rate per 1,000 residents has significantly decreased, from 11.42 in 2007[21] to 5.59 in 2012.[22]

Some notable figures and celebrities from Hyattsville include Jim Henson, creator of Sesame Street, and cast member Valentina Anyanwu of Oxygen's Bad Girl's Club Season 10.